A while back I scoffed at the advice that I should “get booked on the Oprah Winfrey Show” to gain more exposure. Well, I’d like your help in trying something close to that. Another female powerhouse, Ellen Degeneres, actually WANTS MUSIC SUGGESTIONS for her show.
If you’ve got just a couple of minutes, I’d love to get your assistance in reaching out to her. It’s a long-shot, I know, but I’ve always wanted to try something like this! Here’s all you need to do:
As musicians, most of us just want to write our brooding love ballads or electric tuba concept albums and have people line up around the block to buy it. While we’re waiting for that to happen, though, there are plenty of marketing agencies making ads, promos, and campaigns that absolutely need original music.
On that note, Creative Directors and agencies are facing budget cutbacks that would make a public librarian shudder. In fact, most of the people I worked with back in 2007 had to jump ship to other companies as their budgets sank with the stock market. Musicians like me that run small, professional-grade studios are a Godsend for these folks. In the past, small budget meant weak sound, but there is enough power in an iMac with Garageband to create truly compelling albums. Imagine what a guy like me can do with his own independent studio.
My Name is Matthew Ebel, and I Produce Audio
That’s right, I make more music than you can find here or at Matthew Ebel dot net. I’ve done behind-the-scenes work for Coca-Cola, Porter Novelli, Bigelow Tea, and more. If you think I only write about robots and ninjas, believe me there’s a lot more going on here. Check out some of the stuff I’ve done for business clients in the past:
Why pay a big studio tens of thousands of dollars for a 30-second clip that could be done just as well by an independent artist at half the cost? It’s a match made in heaven, the only real difficulty is making that match in the first place.
I’ve been able to establish myself with these companies as a guy who can get the work done in record time, but I’d love to hear how other musicians and producers pair up with agencies. Whether you’re the Creative Director or the musician, what’s worked for you?
Some conventions are for the über-social. Some for the geeks that rarely see daylight. Some are invite-only ski trips for those of us that are simply better than you.
If anyone asks me why I moved from Nashville, the Music City, up to the frigid northeast, this is my answer. This is what I live for when it drops below camping temperature. I’m just so glad that I have friends like these that enjoy highway speeds on thin planks of wood and fiberglass.
Photography by myself and RoninOtter, edited by RoninOtter.
After fielding some questions and comments about the death, resurrection, and uncertain future of Sellaband, I felt the need to clarify why a modern artist really doesn’t need microfinancing of any kind. Especially microfinancing that’s badly managed to the point of declaring bankruptcy. The easiest way to cover this is a simple comparison between Sellaband and my own subscription service, Matthew Ebel dot net. Of course, by “my subscription service”, I mean “what any artist can offer direct to their fans”.
I get funding directly from my fans on a monthly/yearly basis.
Believers are promised one new album once $15k (or whatever) is reached, if ever.
I already give my subscribers 2 new songs, fully produced, every single month.
If the target is ever reached, an artist can hire a professional studio, engineer, and producer.
For as little as $5,000 I can buy better equipment and hire a professional engineer in my own studio.1
If the target is ever reached, believers get one album (retail value $10) from their artist.
Every year my subscribers get one or two albums’ worth of new material and, depending on the subscription level, stickers, mugs, shirts, etc.
Sellaband holds onto believers’ money until the artist’s goal is reached, if ever. If they disappear, so does the money.
Subscribers’ money goes directly into better studio equipment, goodies for the annual goodie bags, the annual Beer Bash, touring, rent, food, etc. with no one holding the money hostage.
Sellaband charges a percentage to handle the money, on top of anything PayPal takes.
PayPal is the only middle man taking a cut, and even that may change soon.
Believers may, if the artist allows, share in revenue generated from the album if it is ever produced.
Subscribers can use affiliate links to share in revenue from referrals for as long as they stay subscribed.
I’m sure there are other comparisons to make, but frankly this was enough for me. What it all boils down to is one simple equation:
If every fan who bought a Part via Sellaband spent the same money on a Matthew Ebel dot net subscription instead, I would be able to make much better music and they would get music and goodies immediately.
This is true for any artist, not just me. It’s why I’m leaving Sellaband, and it’s why I think artists should take a much more critical look at micro-financing schemes before jumping on board with them.
1 – Don’t ask “what if I don’t own a studio?” All of the gear I use right now, including the MacBook, cost me less than $6,000 and some of it is unnecessary for a band on a budget. I recorded “Beer & Coffee” in a dining room with Apple’s Garageband and “Goodbye Planet Earth” in my bedroom.
If you haven’t been following the news over at Sellaband, they recently died on the table and came back like someone suffering heart failure in a hospital. They’re under new ownership now, good for them, but the “am I going to ever see the money I invested” scare was bad enough for me that I’m recommending my fans pull out of Sellaband immediately and simply reinvest their money directly into the artists they support (whether it’s me or someone else). Here’s the reasoning:
Sellaband was set up to help artists record albums.
I own my own studio and I’m already releasing new songs every single month.
So instead of trying to raise $15,000 or more for a single album, I would rather spend that kind of money on things that will create better recordings month after month:
Better speakers so I can mix more accurately (about $800)
Sound treatment for my studio walls (about $350)
A newer computer that can handle more plugins (about $1,000)
A budget for real guitarists, drummers, etc. instead of the software instruments I use now
A budget for a real mixing engineer who knows what she’s doing
Any one of these things would help me improve the quality of sound that I’m already creating and releasing to my fans. If you’re supporting me via Sellaband, here’s what I’d like to see you do… Read the rest of this entry »
Tour Smart
The biggest textbook you’ll ever find about taking your music on the road.
Trust Agents
My friends’ awesome book about making good use of social networks without annoying your fans.
Latest Reviews:
Brilliant production. I’ve been in High Orbit withdrawal for some time, and I’m glad to hear Captain Ebel and the Bots again, and how! — Chris Saia, Matthew Ebel dot net
A while back I scoffed at the advice that I should “get booked on the Oprah Winfrey Show” to gain more exposure. Well, I’d like your help in trying something close to that. Another female powerhouse, Ellen Degeneres, actually WANTS MUSIC SUGGESTIONS for her show.
If you haven’t been following the news over at Sellaband, they recently died on the table and came back like someone suffering heart failure in a hospital. They’re under new ownership now, good for them, but the “am I going to ever see the money I invested” scare was bad enough for me that I’m recommending my fans pull out of Sellaband immediately and simply reinvest their money directly into the artists they support (whether it’s me or someone else). Here’s the reasoning:
